custodia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kʊsˈtoː.di.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kusˈtɔː.di.a]^[1]

Forms

custōdia f (genitive custōdiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from custōs, stem ⟨custōd-⟩ “guard, keeper”, with the suffix -ia.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of protection.^[2] Köbler also starts with Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant protection, safekeeping, guard, as Plautus' custōdiam agitāre “to keep good watch”, and in Cicero the preservation of a practice.^[2][5] It meant a protecting thing, a place of safekeeping, custody, charge, the keeping of a watch, a guard post, and especially in the army a guard, picket.^[2] From Cicero it meant confinement, custody, imprisonment, a prison, and in Columella restraint over oneself, and in Seneca a prisoner or prisoners.^[2] Döderlein explains that custōdia is a place where prisoners are kept, carcer the prison proper.^[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant guard, custody, protection, confinement, a pyx, a prison cell, care.^[7] Medieval Latin used it of an escort, a garrison and castle-ward.^[8] English custody came in the mid-15th century, “a keeping, guarding”.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of protection.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of keeping watch.^[2][5][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of imprisonment.^[2][4]
• mid-15th century – English custody is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. Protection, safekeeping.^[2]
2. A means of protection; a place of safekeeping.^[2]
3. Charge, custody.^[2]
4. A watch; a guard post; a guard.^[2]
5. Imprisonment; a prison.^[2]
6. Restraint.^[2]
7. A prisoner.^[2]
8. (Medieval Latin) A garrison; castle-ward.^[8]

Word family

• custodiarium
• custōdiārius
• custōdiola

Related words

• custōs
• carcer
• English custody

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com